Reading news on an Android smartphone sometimes feels like an act of futility. Titles are tough to tap and get the right story, font is too small, the news isn’t refreshing quickly enough, and so on. Reading the news should be a smooth experience that doesn’t make you want to tear your hair out. Instead of going to the major news sites in the browser of your choice, use a news reader app to simplify the effort. You’ll find that you enjoy reading the latest updates and stories of interest once again with a good news reader.

Google Now

Google Now is also known as that page you get when you swipe to the right on your Android. It’s a seemingly generic page until you set it up to reflect your likes and desires, including the news. Setting it up requires a little bit of training on your part, and a little bit of intuition on Google’s part. Set up Now with the news sources you prefer along with your topics of interest. After a short period of time, Now starts populating the page with news titles that it thinks will interest you.

The Guardian

Most people think of the Guardian as being a UK-based newspaper that focuses mainly on topics from the UK. In actuality, the Guardian focuses on news from around the world, and its coverage of major news stories is unparalleled. It has broken major scandals while maintaining a journalistic integrity that’s largely lost in modern times. The app allows you to access the news stories as they happen without going through hoops to find them. The app is free to download, and there is a subscription option available if you want access to more information.

The app looks similar to the website, and lets you decide what you want to see at the top of your news feed. Set it to put up American news first or ask for a mix of national and international headlines. It looks great on smartphones and works well with a phone like the Samsung Galaxy S7 from T-Mobile.

Feedly

Feedly runs on RSS, or Rich Site Syndication. RSS is a protocol that lets you pick and choose what titles you want to see from news sites. For example, the website Metafilter runs an RSS feed that sends the user the latest titles on the website. If you haven’t logged into Feedly for a while, it’ll pull all of the latest titles from Metafilter and display them in the reader. From there, you click on the links that you want to read at that moment.

The only potential drawback to Feedly is the fact that websites aren’t always keeping their RSS feeds operational. It’s an older style of reading news, and some sites don’t want to support it anymore. The other minor drawback with RSS is when websites change addresses for the feed and don’t update their users. Feedly might need more maintenance than other apps due to these issues.

The New York Times

The New York Times is another newspaper that offers a well-designed app. It’s easy to use and has a clean appearance. It also lets you customize the information you want to see along with having a front page to scroll through. Set the app up for the latest sports updates or breaking news. The strongest selling point to getting the New York Times app is the fact that the newspaper engages in strong journalism practices. That is, it won’t send an article to print unless it’s been completely vetted.

A subscription is required in order to access more than 10 articles a month. But if keeping up with news and quality journalism is important to you, the subscription fee is worthwhile. There is a subscription that allows for access across all digital devices as well.

These four apps let you look at the news with the least amount of hassle. You get to see what you want, not what someone else thinks you need to read. It’s freedom to read whatever you like at its finest.

]]>http://androidspin.com/2016/10/07/4-underrated-news-apps-for-android/feed/3What to Do with Your Recalled Galaxy Note7http://androidspin.com/2016/10/05/what-to-do-with-your-recalled-note7/
http://androidspin.com/2016/10/05/what-to-do-with-your-recalled-note7/#commentsWed, 05 Oct 2016 15:13:05 +0000http://androidspin.com/?p=171208Your Note7 has been recalled, and along with the inconvenience of being unable to use your phone, you need to figure out how to get your refund and get it replaced ASAP. The process is going to be different based on where you bought your phone and what cell carrier you have. Thankfully, the answers […]

Your Note7 has been recalled, and along with the inconvenience of being unable to use your phone, you need to figure out how to get your refund and get it replaced ASAP. The process is going to be different based on where you bought your phone and what cell carrier you have. Thankfully, the answers are readily available and Samsung is making the process as easy for you as possible.

Stop Using It

If your Galaxy Note7 has been recalled, you should stop using it immediately. If you bought your Note7 on or before September 15, then the recall affects you. Yours might be working perfectly well, and you might be tempted to keep using it. Having your phone recalled is inconvenient, but it’s not worth your safety, so even if your phone seems fine, you should power it down and get a new one.

The problem with the Galaxy Note7 is the battery. More than two dozen people have seen their phones actually catch fire or explode because of a battery problem. You don’t want this to happen to you. That’s why you should shut it off and leave it shut off.

Check Samsung for Instructions

Samsung has agreed to replace all the recalled Note7s that people purchased from them directly. Your options include getting a new “safe” Note7 (marked with a big blue S on the box), using a different battery, or a getting a Galaxy S7 or S7 edge. Samsung is also willing to replace all your accessories, so if you bought a phone case or other Note accessories, you can turn them in and get new ones for your new Galaxy device.

Samsung’s website has a page devoted to the recall. There you’ll find a place to enter your serial number to find out if your phone is affected. They also have a list of phone numbers for popular retailers and carriers where you might have bought your Note7. Samsung also includes a phone number to contact them directly about the issue, and if you call you’re eligible for a $25 credit or gift card for your trouble.

Head to the Retail Store Where You Bought It

If you bought your Note7 at a popular retailer like Best Buy or Amazon, you should return it to the retailer. Best Buy is offering full refunds for Note 7s. Stop by a Best Buy store with your Note7 and the receipt (if you have it). Amazon is also giving full refunds for the phone, but they haven’t yet actually asked customers for the phones back. To get more information and for your refund,Â you’ll have to contact Amazon directly.

Go to Your Carrier

If you bought your Note7 through your carrier, each company is offering a slightly different deal to replace it. For example, T-Mobile offers one of the best deals out there: you can return your Note7 for a full refund of the purchase price. They’ll also take back the accessories you bought to go with the phone. Once you have your refund, T-Mobile gives you a few choices.

Get your Samsung Galaxy Note7 replaced with a new, safe Note7 in the T-Mobile store. You may also want to take the opportunity to explore a new phone, and the Galaxy S7 is a great alternative. If you’re not feeling kindly towards Samsung at the moment, T-Mobile offers lots of great phones from other companies with comparable features. Ask someone in the store for recommendations.

Before You Get a New Note7

Samsung is releasing a new Note7 model which they’ve branded as safe. Keep in mind that many airlines now don’t allow Note 7s on flights unless they’re switched completely off. If you travel often, you may want to change phones, because airlines don’t know whether you’re carrying one of the new safe models or an old dangerous one.

Turn in your Note7 as soon as possible and get a replacement so you don’t have to be without a phone for very long. Though you’re probably tempted to keep using it until you can get to the store, don’t. Be safe.

]]>http://androidspin.com/2016/10/05/what-to-do-with-your-recalled-note7/feed/1Nexus devices getting June security updateshttp://androidspin.com/2016/06/08/nexus-devices-getting-june-security-updates/
http://androidspin.com/2016/06/08/nexus-devices-getting-june-security-updates/#respondThu, 09 Jun 2016 02:00:24 +0000http://androidspin.com/?p=170975Smartphone companies now have focused on providing monthly security updates to maintain their positions on top and keep consumers safer from the wilds of connected world. We have seen Samsung and Blackberry, along with most other major players, working to keep things moving forward on the security front. Google and there Nexus line fall at […]

Smartphone companies now have focused on providing monthly security updates to maintain their positions on top and keep consumers safer from the wilds of connected world. We have seen Samsung and Blackberry, along with most other major players, working to keep things moving forward on the security front. Google and there Nexus line fall at the top of the list when it comes to being Â diligent though. Nexus devices are getting their June security update already in fact. This updateÂ fixes several critical issues, including issues in Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability in Qualcomm Video, Sound, GPU andÂ Wi-Fi Drivers, Remote Code Execution Vulnerability in Media-serverÂ and more.

The Nexus devices which will be receiving this update are the Nexus 7 (MOB30M),Â Nexus 7 (2013) Wi-Fi (MOB30M),Â Nexus 5 (MOB30M),Â Nexus 9 Wi-Fi (MOB30M),Â Nexus 9 LTE (MOB30M),Â Nexus Player (MOB30M),Â Nexus 6 (MOB30M),Â Nexus 5X (MTC19V),Â Nexus 6P (MTC19V) andÂ Pixel C (MXC89HN).Â The update is being rolled out over-the-air (OTA), but, if you havenâ€™t received it yet on your Nexus device, you can still install it by using the Factory Images or OTA Zip Files.

]]>http://androidspin.com/2016/06/08/nexus-devices-getting-june-security-updates/feed/05 Android Devices You Didn’t Realize You Neededhttp://androidspin.com/2016/05/30/5-android-devices-you-didnt-realize-you-needed/
http://androidspin.com/2016/05/30/5-android-devices-you-didnt-realize-you-needed/#respondTue, 31 May 2016 01:51:29 +0000http://androidspin.com/?p=170890It’s easy to stick with the same brands and models, but with a bit of research, you might realize what it is you really need.Â Here are fiveÂ Android devices you might not have considered but should. Samsung Galaxy S7 The Samsung Galaxy S7 is a flagship Android phone making waves thanks to its stunning looks, high-fidelity […]

It’s easy to stick with the same brands and models, but with a bit of research, you might realize what it is you really need.Â Here are fiveÂ Android devices you might not have considered but should.

Samsung Galaxy S7

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is a flagship Android phone making waves thanks to its stunning looks, high-fidelity camera, IP68 water resistance, immersive display, and attention to detail. It has been voted one ofÂ the best Android phones of 2016. In fact, nearly all the problems found in the Galaxy S6 were addressed when designing the S7. It features a 5.1-inch quad-HD display and a 12 megapixel camera and is IP68 water-resistant. Kudos, Samsung!

Huawei Nexus 6P

If you prefer to subvert trends, the Huawei Nexus 6P is the phone for you. It features many of the features of the Samsung Galaxy S7 but comes with a lower price tag. It’s also an aesthetically pleasing smartphone, but the functionality is what truly impresses. Its 5.7-inch quad-HD display is a real looker, and it boasts accelerated charging times thanks to a USB-C port. The Nexus 6P takes surprisingly clear pictures in low-light settings and boasts some of the fastest performance on any Android smartphone. Huawei doesn’t have the name recognition of Sony or Samsung, but it’s still making headlines with its high-quality devices.

Amazon Fire

You could do a lot worse for $49.99. The Amazon Fire has set the world ablaze by being an unbelievably affordable yet fully functional tablet. If you want to have access to multimedia at any time without compromising on visibilityÂ or performance, the Fire is a perfect addition to your gadget collection. The 7-inch model is portable, has advanced parental controls, and allows access to one of the largest pools of content available today thanks to Amazon’s suite of digital services. The 7-inch IPS display and 1.3 GHz quad-core processor make this affordable tablet a solid option for on-the-go entertainment.

Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro

The Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro is a premium tablet with all the bells and whistles you could imagine, plus more. Although it’s a relatively pricey tablet, its unique features make it one of the coolest and flat-out techiest devices to be released in a while. It features powerful performance, long battery life, and even a built-in projector to share what you’re viewing with others. The Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro has a lot working for it. Figuring out how to use it all to its fullest potential is part of the fun of owning it. You can stay up to date on the latest developments on sites likeÂ Android Headlines.

Motorola Moto 360 (Gen.2)

Tired of hauling around cases for all your Android devices? New Android wear watchesÂ make it easy to keep Android functionality at your finger tips without the need for a phone or tablet. Motorola’s Moto 360 looks like a watch from your favorite designer, but it also lets you message your friends, check emails, and more.

Only you know what really fits your lifestyle and needs. Let this list inspire you to try something new!

It seems that XiaomiÂ is workingÂ pretty hard this year. They’ve released a bunch of smartphonesÂ in first half of the year: theÂ entry-levelÂ Redmi Note 3, the Mi 4s, and the high-endÂ Mi 5. Now, theÂ Chinese smartphone maker hasÂ launched itsÂ biggest smartphone yet, the Xiaomi Mi Max.

The Xiaomi Mi Max features a humungous 6.44-inch 1080p display with 2.5D curved glass protection and is powered by an the hexa-coreÂ Snapdragon 652Â processor, 4GB RAM, and 64GB internal storage. ItÂ runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow-based MIUI 8Â operating system that brings a lot of new features including theÂ one-handed mode and a shortcut dock to launch apps easily. It sportsÂ a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera with dual-tone LED flash, phase-detection autofocus, andÂ a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. It also has a touch-based fingerprint sensor on itsÂ back.

There’s also an entry-level variant that comes with a Snapdragon 650 processor, 3GB RAM, and 32GB internal storage. TheÂ Xiaomi Mi Max comes in Gold, Silver, and Grey. Here is the pricing for each of its variant:

MIUI 8Â features

MIUI 8 introduces two new feature that are designed to improve battery life:Â the power-saving mode freezes background apps and tasks in order to keep the phone running for as long as possible. Meanwhile, users would beÂ able to select which apps they want to load at startup, which should improve performance, in addition to prolonging battery life.

Xiaomi mobilesÂ boast powerful cameras and MIUI 8 brings enhancements to the gallery app that comes preloaded on them. These include new sharing controls, improved multiple photo selection, and support for various doodles and stickers. Video editing has also been improved, and overall, the gallery app is said to be more storage efficient.

MIUI 8 comes withÂ high quality wallpapers, and users can pickÂ their favourite category, set the frequency of changing wallpapers, and wait for the wallpaper to be changed daily.

These are some important features in the update, you can check all the supported featuresÂ here.Â The MIUI 8 Developer ROM will be available for the MiÂ 2, 2S, Mi 3, Mi 4, Mi 4C, Mi 5 and Mi Note series from June 17 in China, after beta testing from June 1. More devices will be added to the list soon. Registration for beta testing begins May 16, butÂ Xiaomi has not announced roll out details for the global ROM yet.

]]>http://androidspin.com/2016/05/11/heres-need-know-xiaomi-mi-max-miui-8/feed/0Android Marshmallow hits 7.5% adoption rate; Lollipop slightly down at 35.6%http://androidspin.com/2016/05/04/android-marshmallow-hits-7-5-adoption-rate-lollipop-slightly-35-6/
http://androidspin.com/2016/05/04/android-marshmallow-hits-7-5-adoption-rate-lollipop-slightly-35-6/#commentsWed, 04 May 2016 19:16:02 +0000http://androidspin.com/?p=170726Google has released the Android platform distribution numbers for the month of May, revealing that the latest iteration of its mobile OS – Marshmallow – is now powering 7.5% of all active Android devices worldwide. That’s quite a notable jump for Marshmallow given that its share was 4.6% last month. Lollipop, meanwhile, held on […]

Google has released the Android platform distribution numbers for the month of May, revealing that the latest iteration of its mobile OS – Marshmallow – is now powering 7.5% of all active Android devices worldwide.

That’s quite a notable jump for Marshmallow given that its share was 4.6% last month. Lollipop, meanwhile, held on to the top spot with 35.6% share, slightly down from 35.8% in April. KitKat also saw a decrease in share from 33.4% last month to 32.5% this month. While Jelly Bean went down from 21.3% to 20.1% in the same period. Ice Cream Sandwich on the other hand dropped from 2.2% to 2.0% while Gingerbread is present on 2.2% of devices, down from 2.6%. Finally, Froyo is still hanging on and is present on 0.1% of all Android devices.

]]>http://androidspin.com/2016/05/04/android-marshmallow-hits-7-5-adoption-rate-lollipop-slightly-35-6/feed/4Lenovo Z1 with Cyanogen OS launching in India on May 10http://androidspin.com/2016/05/04/lenovo-z1-cyanogen-os-launching-india-may-10/
http://androidspin.com/2016/05/04/lenovo-z1-cyanogen-os-launching-india-may-10/#commentsWed, 04 May 2016 17:16:03 +0000http://androidspin.com/?p=170721Lenovo today announced that the Z1 smartphone powered by ZUK will launch in India on May 10th. It will be a crowd sourced launch that will allow its fans to launch the phone. The smartphone was launched first in chinaÂ as ZUK Z1 back in August last year.Â Micromaxâ€™s sub-brand Yu Televentures has been offering Cyanogen OSÂ exclusively […]

Lenovo today announced that the Z1 smartphone powered by ZUK will launch in India on May 10th. It will be a crowd sourced launch that will allow its fans to launch the phone. The smartphone was launched first in chinaÂ as ZUK Z1 back in August last year.Â Micromaxâ€™s sub-brand Yu Televentures has been offering Cyanogen OSÂ exclusively in India since November 2014, but Zuk Z1 will also now be coming withÂ Cyanogen 12.1 based on Android 5.1 Lollipop.

The Zuk Z1 was launched first in china for 1799 Yuan (285$) for the 64GB version. We can expect the company to price the smartphone at around this range only in India. The lenovo will be only announcing 64GB version for the Indian market.

The Lenovo Z1 will be available in a dark grey color in India.Â We don’t know what the pricing for the Z1 will be just yet, but as you see with the initial Zuk Z1, it landed for $285 USD. Stay tuned for the details.

]]>http://androidspin.com/2016/05/04/lenovo-z1-cyanogen-os-launching-india-may-10/feed/1Cyanogen OS No Longer Exclusive to Yu Televenture in India.http://androidspin.com/2016/05/03/cyanogen-os-no-longer-exclusive-yu-televenture-india/
http://androidspin.com/2016/05/03/cyanogen-os-no-longer-exclusive-yu-televenture-india/#commentsWed, 04 May 2016 01:45:45 +0000http://androidspin.com/?p=170702Micromax’s sub-brand Yu Televentures has been offering Cyanogen OSÂ exclusively in India since November 2014, but that isn’t going to be the case for much longer. Lenovo backed ZUK is entering India with its Zuk Z1 smartphone which is going to feature Cyanogen 12.1 based on Android 5.1 Lollipop. The Zuk Z1 was launched first in […]

Micromax’s sub-brand Yu Televentures has been offering Cyanogen OSÂ exclusively in India since November 2014, but that isn’t going to be the case for much longer. Lenovo backed ZUK is entering India with its Zuk Z1 smartphone which is going to feature Cyanogen 12.1 based on Android 5.1 Lollipop.

The Zuk Z1 was launched first in china for 1799 Yuan (285$) for the 64GB version. We can expect the company to price the smartphone at around this range only in India.

They will only be launching a 64GB variant this time. CyanogenModÂ is built upon an open source base which offers many themes and lot of customization’s, but we are sure many of you know this already. AlsoÂ more than six vendors, both local and international, would launch phones running Cyanogen OS in the country throughout 2016 said Cyanogen CEO Kirt McMaster’s in December. The Â Cyanogen team will have 60 people in their team by December 2016, which should make that a fairly easy feat.

]]>http://androidspin.com/2016/05/03/cyanogen-os-no-longer-exclusive-yu-televenture-india/feed/1HTC Desire 830 offically announced in Taiwanhttp://androidspin.com/2016/05/03/htc-desire-830-offically-announced-taiwan/
http://androidspin.com/2016/05/03/htc-desire-830-offically-announced-taiwan/#respondWed, 04 May 2016 00:39:47 +0000http://androidspin.com/?p=170707HTC released a range of devices wearing the Desire badge but with aÂ mix of low and mid-range devices. These devices include smartphones such as the Desire C, a follow-up to the HTC Wildfire and Wildfire S, and a number of numbered Desire handsets a little later and from 2012. Today theÂ HTC Desire 830 has been […]

HTC released a range of devices wearing the Desire badge but with aÂ mix of low and mid-range devices. These devices include smartphones such as the Desire C, a follow-up to the HTC Wildfire and Wildfire S, and a number of numbered Desire handsets a little later and from 2012. Today theÂ HTC Desire 830 has been made official by the company.

Taiwan’s HTC has officially announced the new Desire 830, althoughÂ most of the details had been revealed a week early. The fully plastic-made devices packs in a respectably sharp 5.5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display powered by aÂ fairly decent 2,800 mAh battery. HTC packed in a 13MP rear shooter and 4 UltraPixel camera on the front.

Size wise you are looking at 157.5mm x 78.9mm with a thickness of 7.79mm with a weight of 156 grams. The MediaTek l 1.5GHz octa-core Â Helio X10 processor delivera decent raw speed, with 3GB RAM for the multitaskers on a budget. For the storage junkies you will find 32GB of internal storage with an expandable micro SD slot for digital hoarders.

The HTC Desire 830 runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box, meaning it should do pretty well with battery life and bring the bells and whistles we are all wanting. Fans of HTC wil find the usual HTC sense UI overlay, but it looks like it has been pulled back quite a bit like the HTC 10 and A9 offered. Â Price wise, you will be able to purchase the Desire 830 for $310 USD.

]]>http://androidspin.com/2016/05/03/htc-desire-830-offically-announced-taiwan/feed/0A Closer Look at the New App Settings Menu with Granular Permission Controls in Android Mhttp://androidspin.com/2015/06/02/closer-look-new-app-settings-menu-granular-permission-controls-android-m/
http://androidspin.com/2015/06/02/closer-look-new-app-settings-menu-granular-permission-controls-android-m/#respondTue, 02 Jun 2015 23:36:57 +0000http://androidspin.com/?p=164686One of the most anticipatedÂ features in the latest and greatest version of Google’s popular smartphone OS, Android M, is granular app permission control. To the average user, this might beÂ the equivalent of speaking a foreign language that does not compute, but for those who prefer to take a safer approach to mobile computing, this is […]

One of the most anticipatedÂ features in the latest and greatest version of Google’s popular smartphone OS, Android M, is granular app permission control. To the average user, this might beÂ the equivalent of speaking a foreign language that does not compute, but for those who prefer to take a safer approach to mobile computing, this is a welcome addition that has been requested for some time now. For those unfamiliar, or even those interested in seeing how it works, let’s take a look at what’s new in the app settings menu in the first Developer Preview of Android M.

The first thing I noticed when looking in the new Settings > Apps menu: there is only one unified screen that has all of your installed apps. In the past, there was a tab for downloaded apps, running apps, and all apps. Now, everything is listed in one place making it easier to find what you’re looking for. In the top right-hand corner, there is a search button (for those of you who like to install tons of apps) and a hamburger menu that has advanced options, a settingÂ to show or hide system apps, and an option to reset app preferences.

Â Â Â

The advanced settings menu has the following submenus, which I’ll give you a brief rundown of below:

Default Apps — Set your default browser, phone, and SMS apps; there’s also an Assist setting that lets the assist app see what you’ve done on your screen.

App Links –Â Developers can add an “autoVerify” attribute to their app manifest to tell the operating system that there is no need to prompt the user for certain types of links. When users click on links that meet the criteria, it will bring them straight to the auto-verified app. In this setting field, users can toggle the option to open supported links without asking.

App Permissions — This is a super handy new field that lists all the possible permissions an app might require of your devices, like your camera, location, and phone. Clicking on any one of these fields will bring up a list of every app installed on your device that uses a particular permission. This can be extremely useful for limiting access to an app from a developer that isn’t 100% trusted. After all, a rogue app with the access to the right app permissions could end up causing more than just a headache to the device owner.

Ignore Optimizations — Android M features a pretty awesome new battery-saving tool, called Doze Mode. The ignore optimizations tab gives users the ability to selectÂ which apps they want to ignore these battery optimizations. By default, Google Play Services, Google Play Store, and Download Manager are all set to ignore, likely because they will not function properly if this option wasn’t selected.

Memory — Another revamped screen, the memory tab shows each app, how often the app is running, and the amount of RAM each app is accountable for consuming. This can be particularly useful when tracking down rogue apps that chew through battery life and cause your device to perform slowly.

So, What are Granular App Permissions?

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Granular app permissions allow the user to pick which permissions a given app has access to. This can be tested by selecting an app from the Settings > Apps menu. The menu here has also been revamped, now displaying the amount of storage the app is using, the amount of data the app has used, permissions, notifications, defaults, and battery consumption — virtually everything you could want to know about said app. Clicking the permissions button leads you to the list of permissions the app in question can use, along with toggle switches that allow you to turn on and off each permission.Â For example, the Android Wear app uses the following permissions:

Contacts

Phone

Calendar

Location

Microphone

SMS

Any of these permissions can be denied by the user, for any number of reasons. In the case of trusted apps, you won’t likely disable many permissions, but it’s always nice to be able to do so if the need arises. When it comes to apps from developers you are not familiar with, you can now at least test their apps with total control over which permissions these apps can and cannot access.